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Levels of power · Level 3 of 10

Local councils

City, district, borough and unitary councils, and their mayors, run most day-to-day public services: bins, housing, planning, roads, social care and schools support. In the UK they set council tax, and they spend tens of billions of pounds a year through contracts that must be published.

What this level decides

Key figures

FigureValueSource
Local authorities in England (GOV.UK page last updated 1 April 2023)317Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), read 23 October 2026
Local authorities in England by type (GOV.UK page last updated 1 April 2023)21 county councils, 164 district councils, 62 unitary authorities, 36 metropolitan districts, 32 London boroughs, plus the City of London and the Isles of ScillyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), read 23 October 2026
Total net current service expenditure by local authorities in England (2024-25 (second release, June 2026))£134.2 billionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), read 23 October 2026
Non-ringfenced revenue account reserves of English local authorities (estimated) (At 31 March 2025)£30.4 billionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), read 23 October 2026
Average Band D council tax in England (2026-27)£2,392 (up £111, or 4.9%)Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), read 23 October 2026
Council tax requirement in England, including adult social care and parish precepts (2026-27)£46.8 billion (up £2.7 billion, or 6.1%)Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), read 23 October 2026
Principal councils in Wales (Page published 2023, current at read date)22Welsh Government, read 23 October 2026
Average Band D council tax in Wales (2026-27)£2,283 (county councils £1,831, police £400, community councils £52)Welsh Government, read 23 October 2026
Local councils in Northern Ireland (Read 2026-10-23)11NI Direct (Northern Ireland Executive), read 23 October 2026
Net revenue expenditure of Scottish local government (2024-25 and 2025-26)£15,760 million provisional outturn 2024-25; £16,239 million budget estimate 2025-26Scottish Government, read 23 October 2026

How it works

GOV.UK says there are 317 local authorities in England in five types: county councils, district councils, unitary authorities, metropolitan districts and London boroughs. In two-tier areas, county councils provide services such as education, social services and waste disposal, while district councils handle rubbish collection, housing and planning applications. Unitary authorities, metropolitan districts and London boroughs provide all or nearly all services in their area, and the Greater London Authority provides London-wide functions.

GOV.UK says councillors are elected for four-year terms using first past the post, on the first Thursday in May. Elections may be held by whole council, by halves or by thirds. The Local Government Boundary Commission for England decides the number of councillors for each authority. Under the Local Government Act 2000 councils operate a mayor and cabinet, a leader and cabinet, or a committee system, or other arrangements approved by the Secretary of State.

Council tax is the main locally raised income. MHCLG reports an England average Band D of £2,392 for 2026-27, up 4.9%. Authorities with adult social care responsibilities could raise tax by a further 2 per cent for that purpose, and a referendum is needed above the referendum principles, generally 5% for those authorities. MHCLG says local government expenditure accounts for just under a fifth of all government spending.

MHCLG's outturn statistics report total net current service expenditure of £134.2 billion in 2024-25, with education services at £44.4 billion, adult social care at £25.3 billion and children's social care at £15.7 billion. Councils must meet transparency expectations in the Local government transparency code 2015, which sets the minimum data authorities should publish, and complaints can go to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

The other UK nations differ. The Welsh Government says there are 22 principal councils and that Wales's average Band D council tax for 2026-27 is £2,283. NI Direct says Northern Ireland has 11 councils run by elected councillors. The Scottish Government reports net revenue expenditure for local government of £15,760 million in 2024-25 provisional outturn, and its 2026-27 Budget sets a local government settlement of £15,686.1 million.

How to have a say

  1. Find your local council's website by postcode, then look for its meeting calendar, agendas and minutes
  2. Find your local councillors and contact them about a local issue
  3. Read how your council works, including the types of council and what each provides
  4. Make a Freedom of Information request to your council for spending, contracts or decisions
  5. Register to vote so you can take part in council elections and any local referendums
  6. Complain to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman once you have used your council's complaints process

The records you can check

Official registers and data

In the UK

Around the world

The tiers of local government in each country, from the constitution, local government laws and national statistics offices:

Up and down the ladder

Above: County councils, combined authorities and metro mayors. Below: Parish, town and community councils.

Common questions

What does local councils decide?

Council tax and business rate relief; Planning permission and local plans; Social care, housing, waste collection and local roads; Contracts and procurement, which must be published.

Which records show what local councils do?

Council budgets and outturn spending (government statistics); Spending over £500 and contracts over £5,000, published by each English council; Councillors' votes, declared interests and allowances; Section 114 notices and government financial support.

How many local councils are there in England?

GOV.UK says there are 317 local authorities in England: 21 county councils, 164 district councils, 62 unitary authorities, 36 metropolitan districts and 32 London boroughs, plus the City of London and the Isles of Scilly. The page was last updated on 1 April 2023, so later reorganisations may not be reflected.

What is the average council tax Band D for 2026-27?

MHCLG reports an England average Band D of £2,392 for 2026-27, up £111 or 4.9% on 2025-26. By area type it is £2,068 in London, £2,409 in metropolitan areas, £2,490 in unitary areas and £2,452 in shire areas. The range runs from £1,028 in Wandsworth to £2,765 in Dorset.

How much do councils in England spend?

MHCLG reports that local authorities in England had total net current service expenditure of £134.2 billion in 2024-25, based on data from 401 of 410 authorities with estimates for the rest. Education services accounted for £44.4 billion and adult social care for £25.3 billion. The broader revenue expenditure measure was £135.3 billion.

Who decides how many councillors a council has?

GOV.UK says the number of councillors for each local authority in England is decided by the independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England, and the Secretary of State has no role. The Commission also reviews electoral areas. Councillors are elected for four-year terms using first past the post.

Can a council raise council tax by any amount?

No. MHCLG's 2026-27 release says authorities must hold a referendum if their basic amount exceeds the referendum principles. For authorities with adult social care duties that is 5% or more, made up of up to 2% for social care and 3% for other spending, with named exceptions such as Shropshire Council at 9%.

How many councils are there in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland?

The Welsh Government says Wales has 22 principal councils, with community and town councils below them. NI Direct says Northern Ireland has 11 local councils. For Scotland, the Scottish Government's local government finance statistics and Budget set out spending by council, with a 2026-27 local government settlement of £15,686.1 million.

Sources